As we approach 2024, I am pleased to share some of the milestones that AgKnow has achieved this year. 2023 has been a year of growth, particularly in laying the groundwork to address crucial aspects of farm mental health in Alberta going forward.
Stakeholder engagements early in the year were instrumental in shaping the direction of our efforts, which were backed by the unwavering support and collaborative spirit of volunteers and staff. With their help, we developed a Suicide Awareness and Prevention Training course, and trained 9 facilitators. Many involved in this project have a personal connection to the impact of suicide in rural areas, going above and beyond to provide, and notably, donate time and resources.
Our involvement in inter-agency meetings and tradeshows has helped to increase awareness of AgKnow, and provided direction to our development. Partnerships with Counselling Alberta and EaseCare represent significant strides toward identifying accessible counseling options for rural Albertans, and we continue to engage with them to increase their capacity to provide farm-informed counselling. The re-launch of free counseling sessions for farm families in September was a notable achievement and we are pleased to also extend the programs to support Veterinarians and Registered Veterinary Technicians. Free sessions are able to be booked by visiting the
farm-informed AgKnow Therapist Network (ATN) on our website. We continue to develop training and provide learning opportunities for mental health and health care professionals and the service providers working in rural Alberta. The expansion of the ATN to cover the province remains a top priority.
Securing funding through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, supported by the provincial and federal governments, allowed us to grow our team. This ensures our capacity to develop evidence-based resources tailored to rural farming communities. It also fuels ongoing research initiatives, like the depopulation study initiated in 2023 and the stress and coping assessment which identified 5 priority areas for Alberta Farmers. Anticipating further research results in 2024, our goal is to optimize mental health and healthcare services for the benefit of the farming community.
As we gear up for the new year, the establishment of an Industry Advisory Group presents an exciting opportunity for interested parties to connect and contribute. The commitment, perseverance, and teamwork of our supporters continue to make a difference in the lives of farmers and their families.
From our team to yours, the entire staff of AgKnow would like to wish you a wonderful holiday season.
